2005 St. Louis Cardinals season

The 2005 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 124th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 114th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 40th and final in Busch Memorial Stadium as they moved to the Busch Stadium III the next year.

The Cardinals went 100–62 during the season and won the National League Central by 11 games over the NL Wild-Card Champion and eventual NL Champion Houston Astros. In the playoffs the Cardinals swept the San Diego Padres 3 games to 0 in the NLDS. However, the Cardinals lost to the Astros 4 games to 2 in the NLCS.

The Cardinals moved their radio broadcasts from KMOX after a 52-year affiliation to KTRS after the season. After the 2010 season, the Cardinals would move their radio broadcasts from KTRS back to KMOX, starting in 2011.

First baseman Albert Pujols won the MVP Award this year, batting .330, with 41 home runs and 117 RBIs. Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young Award this year, with a 2.83 ERA, 21 wins, and 213 strikeouts. Outfielder Jim Edmonds won a Gold Glove this year. The Cardinals pitching staff led Major League Baseball by having the lowest (ERA) (3.49), conceding the fewest earned runs (560) and pitching the most complete games (15).

Offseason December 18, 2004: Dan Haren was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Daric Barton and Kiko Calero to the Oakland Athletics for Mark Mulder.Danny Haren Statistics Baseball-Reference.com February 21, 2005: Bill Pulsipher was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.Bill Pulsipher Statistics Baseball-Reference.com

Regular season A herniated disc in Larry Walker's neck prevented him from turning his head to the left. He received a second cortisone shot to alleviate the pain on June 27. With eight previous surgeries and now playing with pain that impeded his ability to continue to produce at a high level, he signaled that he would retire from playing after the season. He had $12 million team option for 2006.

On August 4, the Cardinals announced that they had bought a 50% share of KTRS 550 AM and was leaving the longtime flagship station KMOX 1120 AM after 52 years and transferring the games to KTRS in 2006.

The Cardinals clinched their fifth National League Central division title in six years on September 17 when they beat the Cubs 5-1. The final regular season game at Busch Memorial Stadium took place on October 2, a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Rookie Chris Duncan hit the final regular season home run at that version of Busch Stadium.

Game log

|- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 1 || April 5 || @ Astros || 7–3 || Carpenter || Oswalt || Isringhausen || 43,567 || 1–0 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 2 || April 6 || @ Astros || 1–4 || Qualls || Tavárez || Lidge || 28,496 || 1–1 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 3 || April 8 || Phillies || 6–5 || Reyes || Madson || Isringhausen || 50,074 || 2–1 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 4 || April 9 || Phillies || 4–10 || Floyd || Suppan || || 39,242 || 2–2 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 5 || April 10 || Phillies || 4–13 || Lieber || Carpenter || || 37,971 || 2–3 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 6 || April 12 || Reds || 5–1 || Marquis || Harang || || 33,617 || 3–3 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 7 || April 13 || Reds || 5–6 || Belisle || Mulder || Graves || 28,772 || 3–4 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 8 || April 15 || @ Brewers || 3–0 || Suppan || Sheets || Isringhausen || 22,676 || 4–4 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 9 || April 16 || @ Brewers || 5–3 || Carpenter || Davis || Isringhausen || 30,732 || 5–4 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 10 || April 17 || @ Brewers || 3–2 || Marquis || Adams || Isringhausen || 21,144 || 6–4 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 11 || April 18 || @ Pirates || 11–1 || Mulder || D. Williams || || 11,220 || 7–4 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 12 || April 19 || @ Pirates || 7–1 || Morris || Fogg || || 12,285 || 8–4 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 13 || April 20 || Cubs || 1–3 || Zambrano || Suppan || Hawkins || 44,855 || 8–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 14 || April 21 || Cubs || 4–0 || Carpenter || Dempster || || 46,119 || 9–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 15 || April 22 || Astros || 8–7 || Marquis || Duckworth || Isringhausen || 44,805 || 10–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 16 || April 23 || Astros || 1–0 || Mulder || Qualls || || 40,058 || 11–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 17 || April 24 || Astros || 8–5 || Morris || Backe || Isringhausen || 39,020 || 12–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 18 || April 26 || Brewers || 5–3 || Suppan || Davis || Flores || 28,787 || 13–5 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 19 || April 27 || Brewers || 6–3 || Carpenter || Santos || Tavárez || 38,343 || 14–5 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 20 || April 28 || Brewers || 3–4 || Capuano || Marquis || Turnbow || 26,026 || 14–6 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 21 || April 29 || @ Braves || 6–5 || Mulder || Hudson || Reyes || 33,833 || 15–6 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 22 || April 30 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Kolb || Journell || || 35,789 || 15–7

|- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 23 || May 1 || @ Braves || 1–2 || Smoltz || Suppan || Kolb || 34,304 || 15–8 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 24 || May 2 || @ Reds || 10–9 || Flores || Graves || Tavárez || 15,961 || 16–8 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 25 || May 3 || @ Reds || 4–2 || Marquis || Harang || Reyes || 16,512 || 17–8 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 26 || May 4 || @ Reds || 7–3 || Mulder || Claussen || || 17,241 || 18–8 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 27 || May 5 || Padres || 3–8 || Hammond || King || || 30,507 || 18–9 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 28 || May 6 || Padres || 5–6 || Williams || Flores || Hoffman || 47,160 || 18–10 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 29 || May 7 || Padres || 4–5 || Eaton || Carpenter || Hoffman || || 18–11 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 30 || May 8 || Padres || 15–5 || Marquis || Redding || Thompson || 46,444 || 19–11 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 31 || May 9 || Dodgers || 4–2 || Mulder || Perez || Reyes || 37,194 || 20–11 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 32 || May 10 || Dodgers || 8–9 || Alvarez || Jarvis || Brazoban || 38,984 || 20–12 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 33 || May 11 || Dodgers || 9–3 || Suppan || Penny || || 35,671 || 21–12 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 34 || May 12 || Dodgers || 10–3 || Carpenter || Lowe || || 45,656 || 22–12 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 35 || May 13 || @ Mets || 0–2 || Glavine || Marquis || Looper || 43,495 || 22–13 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 36 || May 14 || @ Mets || 7–6 || Tavárez || R. Hernandez || Isringhausen || 40,921 || 23–13 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 37 || May 15 || @ Mets || 4–2 || Morris || Heilman || Isringhausen || 32,949 || 24–13 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 38 || May 17 || @ Phillies || 5–7 || Lidle || Suppan || Wagner || 32,103 || 24–14 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 39 || May 18 || @ Phillies || 8–4 || Carpenter || Lieber || || 29,130 || 25–14 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 40 || May 19 || @ Phillies || 4–7 || Myers || Marquis || || 38,229 || 25–15 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 41 || May 20 || @ Royals || 7–6 || Mulder || Greinke || Isringhausen || 31,513 || 26–15 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 42 || May 21 || @ Royals || 6–5 || Morris || Cerda || Isringhausen || 39,781 || 27–15 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 43 || May 22 || @ Royals || 2–9 || Jensen || Suppan || || 29,269 || 27–16 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 44 || May 23 || Pirates || 4–2 || Carpenter || D. Williams || Isringhausen || 33,073 || 28–16 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 45 || May 24 || Pirates || 2–1 || Reyes || Mesa || || 36,285 || 29–16 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 46 || May 25 || Pirates || 11–5 || Mulder || Redman || || 34,895 || 30–16 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 47 || May 27 || Nationals || 6–3 || Morris || Armas || Isringhausen || 47,383 || 31–16 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 48 || May 28 || Nationals || 3–1 || Suppan || Loaiza || Isringhausen || 49,123 || 32–16 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 49 || May 29 || Nationals || 2–3 || L. Hernandez || Carpenter || Cordero || 47,012 || 32–17 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 50 || May 30 || @ Rockies || 5–4 || Marquis || Witasick || Isringhausen || 34,239 || 33–17 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 51 || May 31 || @ Rockies || 1–2 || Jennings || Mulder || Fuentes || 23,519 || 33–18

|- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 52 || June 1 || @ Rockies || 8–6 || Morris || Neal || Isringhausen || 22,266 || 34–18 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 53 || June 2 || @ Rockies || 7–8 || Fuentes || Isringhausen || || 21,381 || 34–19 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 54 || June 3 || @ Astros || 2–0 || Carpenter || Pettitte || Tavárez || 34,092 || 35–19 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 55 || June 4 || @ Astros || 11–9 || Marquis || Rodriguez || Isringhausen || 39,288 || 36–19 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 56 || June 5 || @ Astros || 4–6 || Clemens || Mulder || Lidge || 34,009 || 36–20 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 57 || June 6 || Red Sox || 7–1 || Morris || Wakefield || || 50,270 || 37–20 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 58 || June 7 || Red Sox || 9–2 || Suppan || Clement || || 47,496 || 38–20 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 59 || June 8 || Red Sox || 0–4 || Wells || Carpenter || || 46,928 || 38–21 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 60 || June 10 || Yankees || 8–1 || Marquis || Wang || || 50,250 || 39–21 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 61 || June 11 || Yankees || 0–5 || Johnson || Mulder || Rivera || 50,177 || 39–22 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 62 || June 12 || Yankees || 5–3 || King || Sturtze || Isringhausen || 50,372 || 40–22 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 63 || June 13 || @ Blue Jays || 1–4 || Halladay || Suppan || || 20,032 || 40–23 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 64 || June 14 || @ Blue Jays || 7–0 || Carpenter || Gaudin || || 37,536 || 41–23 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 65 || June 15 || @ Blue Jays || 2–5 || Lilly || Marquis || Batista || 22,908 || 41–24 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 66 || June 17 || @ Devil Rays || 6–4 || Mulder || Harper || Isringhausen || 19,099 || 42–24 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 67 || June 18 || @ Devil Rays || 5–2 || Morris || Hendrickson || Isringhausen || 20,416 || 43–24 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 68 || June 19 || @ Devil Rays || 8–5 || Suppan || Waechter || Isringhausen || 21,275 || 44–24 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 69 || June 20 || @ Reds || 6–1 || Carpenter || Harang || || 22,035 || 45–24 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 70 || June 21 || @ Reds || 4–11 || Claussen || Marquis || || 22,268 || 45–25 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 71 || June 22 || @ Reds || 6–7 || Ortiz || Mulder || Mercker || 31,566 || 45–26 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 72 || June 23 || Pirates || 7–11 || Williams || Morris || R. White || 43,590 || 45–27 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 73 || June 24 || Pirates || 8–1 || Suppan || Wells || || 48,184 || 46–27 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 74 || June 25 || Pirates || 8–0 || Carpenter || Redman || || 48,413 || 47–27 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 75 || June 26 || Pirates || 4–5 || Grabow || Reyes || Mesa || 45,050 || 47–28 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 76 || June 28 || Reds || 2–1 || Mulder || Claussen || Isringhausen || 38,640 || 48–28 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 77 || June 29 || Reds || 11–3 || Morris || Ortiz || || 39,298 || 49–28 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 78 || June 30 || Rockies || 0–7 || Francis || Suppan || || 44,036 || 49–29

|- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 79 || July 1 || Rockies || 6–0 || Carpenter || Kennedy || || 40,128 || 50–29 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 80 || July 2 || Rockies || 1–3 || Wright || Marquis || Fuentes || 47,913 || 50–30 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 81 || July 3 || Rockies || 5–4 || King || Witasick || || 47,811 || 51–30 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 82 || July 4 || @ Dbacks || 10–3 || Morris || Webb || || 31,197 || 52–30 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 83 || July 5 || @ Dbacks || 7–1 || Suppan || Estes || || 23,590 || 53–30 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 84 || July 6 || @ Dbacks || 2–1 || Carpenter || Vazquez || Isringhausen || 21,076 || 54–30 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 85 || July 7 || @ Dbacks || 1–2 || Cormier || King || || 21,959 || 54–31 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 86 || July 8 || @ Giants || 3–1 || Mulder || Schmidt || Isringhausen || 41,405 || 55–31 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb | 87 || July 9 || @ Giants || 0–2 || Hennessey || Morris || Walker || 42,423 || 55–32 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 88 || July 10 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Suppan || Lowry || Isringhausen || 41,925 || 56–32 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 89 || July 15 || Astros || 4–3 || Thompson || Harville || || 48,420 || 57–32 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 90 || July 16 || Astros || 4–2 || Marquis || Oswalt || Isringhausen || 48,034 || 58–32 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 91 || July 17 || Astros || 3–0 || Carpenter || Clemens || || 46,584 || 59–32 |- bgcolor=#ccffcc | 92 || July 18 || Brewers || 11–4 || Morris || Santos || || 41,827 || 60–32 |- bgcolor=#ffbbbb